Anyone else frustrated by the price increases?

[Neesy228]

We were considering Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party -- until I noticed that prices jumped by $10/person for this year. Almost $60 for an adult to attend? Really??

Just in planning our trip over the past few months, I've been so discouraged...it seems like the cost of all things Disney has just skyrocketed. I refuse to believe that just because the economy tanks that means that Disney needs to raise the price on their strollers, raise the hotel rates on the weekends, raise the prices of their character meals for the summer season, replace their chicken strips with chicken nuggets, raise the price for a family of four to the Halloween Party to OVER $200 for a few hours in the Park etc. etc....

If we were to rent a double stroller -- with a length of stay deal -- it would be $270!! Really?? You can get a *really* nice stroller for that much at home and just keep it.

Anyway...I just needed to vent. Does anyone have an address or contact info for someone at Disney? I think I'd like to send a letter to someone who is in the Disney "organization."

 

[Melrosgirl]

We refuse to go to the special ticket parties. The prices are outrageous for them. Stop going and Disney will lower the prices eventually. Guaranteed. Supply and Demand.

 

[snugglepeas]

I dont really mind that much, I mean gas is set to hit over $4 a gallon can you even think what they spend on gas in a month busing people around. I pay for the all in one vacation, I like not having to worry about driving. As for the hard ticket party's if they can still get people to buy the tickets at a higher price then why wouldn't they charge more they are out to make money after all.

 

[crisi]

Just in planning our trip over the past few months, I've been so discouraged...it seems like the cost of all things Disney has just skyrocketed. I refuse to believe that just because the economy tanks that means that Disney needs to raise the price on their strollers, raise the hotel rates on the weekends, raise the prices of their character meals for the summer season, replace their chicken strips with chicken nuggets, raise the price for a family of four to the Halloween Party to OVER $200 for a few hours in the Park etc. etc....

Why would you refuse to believe that? Disney buys gas and food just like you do, they need to pay insurance costs like you do, the use electricity and water. All these things have gone up for Disney and, like you, they have two choices when their expenses increase - cut spending or bring in more income.

 

[Crisgw]

We won't be going. We upgraded to the Poly and there is no way we're buying 4 MNSSHP tickets, esp. at 60/pp!

 

[livndisney]

Personally, I think Disney is going to far. I don't feel this is a result of higher gas/food prices. They changed the room pricing structure last fall before the "4.00" gallon of gas. They changed the dining plan and the DDE card the beginning of this year.
This is Disney trying to make more money and give less. The stroller increase is pure profit. They raised the prices of the kids meals and now give less food.
They almost doubled the price of the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.
The price increase in party tickets is just the latest. They added dates for parties last year-so basically you had to pay twice for the same number of hours in the parks. I worry about what the next park ticket increase is going to look like.

Having said all that, I LOVE WDW. I am just careful how I spend my money while I am there.

 

[bcbmom]

Actually i'm happy to hear they've went up....we were really considering going and now that helps me to just put the thought aside. It's our first family trip so I know we have so much to do already without the tickets. But everytime I read someone saying not to miss it or it's such a fabulous time I started to think we'd better get them. Now knowing the prices went up helps me to have a reason to forget about it....it gives us extra spending $.

 

[Disneychix]

Actually i'm happy to hear they've went up....we were really considering going and now that helps me to just put the thought aside. It's our first family trip so I know we have so much to do already without the tickets. But everytime I read someone saying not to miss it or it's such a fabulous time I started to think we'd better get them. Now knowing the prices went up helps me to have a reason to forget about it....it gives us extra spending $.

You know you really made me start thinking. Originally I had 2 day park hoppers and we were going to buy tickets to MNSSHP and have that be our "extra" day at MK. Then I went all out and upped us to 7 day hoppers and still attending the party. DH is really excited for the new Simpson's ride at US. Maybe I'll go back to my original plan and get the cheapo tix for US/IOA and forget about the party and 7 day hoppers. My family will enjoy spending our money at US this year!

 

[crisi]

Personally, I think Disney is going to far. I don't feel this is a result of higher gas/food prices. They changed the room pricing structure last fall before the "4.00" gallon of gas. They changed the dining plan and the DDE card the beginning of this year.
This is Disney trying to make more money and give less. The stroller increase is pure profit. They raised the prices of the kids meals and now give less food.
They almost doubled the price of the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.
The price increase in party tickets is just the latest. They added dates for parties last year-so basically you had to pay twice for the same number of hours in the parks. I worry about what the next park ticket increase is going to look like.

Having said all that, I LOVE WDW. I am just careful how I spend my money while I am there.

But inflation is more than $4 gas. Its ever increasing insurance costs for employees. Its additional costs to maintain SOX compliance as a publicly traded company.

And its also free market economics. If they sell out ticketed events regularly at $50, raise the price to $60. You may sell fewer tickets, but you'll have a lot more margin. If the demand is too high, the price is too low. In this respect, remember Disney is a publically traded company - they have a responsibility to their shareholders to maximize profits (as long as they are legal and ethical while they do it). They have no responsibility to sell things for less than they are worth.

When a company makes decisions like this they make them after careful study trying to figure out how many people will just go to Universal. They've calculated that in, and they raised prices anyway - so if you don't want to pay the prices, don't go - they won't be hurt unless they misestimated. Which sometimes happens.

 

[mikehn]

Not to sound mean spirited or anything, but my view is, when you go on a vacation to a place like Disney for any length of time, you gotta expect to spend some money. If one is concerned with something like stroller rental rates, then maybe Disney is not the place to go. Another thing is, there is a ton of peer pressure on these forums. Go to Disney, but just do the things you can afford and dont worry about everyone else's raves. Disney's existence is to maximize profits for their shareholders, remember that.

 

[RMulieri]

Unfortunately, prices are going to keep going higher.Our dollar stinks but even with tickets at $60 PP, it is no biggie for people in other countries on the EURO.Disney does not care what the average American can or can not afford.They are a Buisness.Prices are not going to drop.For every 10 people that are going to boycott the prices, 100 people will probably still pay them.I am one of them.I am paying the money to go to MNSSHP.Yes it is very expensive.But I don't go to Disney every year( I don't even vacation every year)So I justify it that way.I have already done MVMCP and not interested in P&P.

 

[eliza61]

Actually, I can deal with the price increases at Disney. It's the price increase in my gas, electricity, property taxes and above all FOOD. No way should a freakin gallon of milk cost $4.50. I remember as a stuggling college student my roomates and I would have scramble eggs and toast for a cheapy meal when pennies were tight. Jeez Louise. going to denny's is not supposed to cost the same thing as going to "le Bernadin".

 

[RMulieri]

I know.Every week I buy the same items when I shop, and every week my bill seems to increase about $10, and yet we are not in a RECESSION. At least according to the federal government.

 

[goofiecrazy]

I was looking into the halloween party for our trip in Sept.The prices they had were from last year and it was like 50 bucks for adult.But if the price went up that much for adults and kids then i might really think about not doing it.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I'll still go - it's our favorite party and parade. We really enjoyed it the few times we went, so much that we did it twice in 1 trip. I was actually a little disappointed in the Christmas Party after having gone to MNSSHP. We don't have a trip planned this fall, so our next halloween party will probably be next year, but we'll be there again in the future. I'd prefer they raise the price and sell the same amount of tickets rather than lower it or keep it the same but sell a few thousand more tickets to make up for the lost revenue. Disney is a for-profit corporation after all.

It's funny. People were complaining last year that the party was too crowded, and didn't feel special enough, and the lines were long, and they sold too many tickets.
So now they raise the price, which will presumably lower the amount of people that will go, which will alleviate the crowd problem and the "I want to fee special for the extra money" problem. And what are we doing?? Complaining anyway.

 

[thebabyconnection]

I think they are going too far as well. Having a birthday party is getting nearly as complicated as my wedding was! Luckily mine is only 2 and still has no idea what her birthday means, I'm scared for next year!

 

[bartleby1]

Quite honestly, I can't believe that disney was able to get away with the ticketed events in the first place, LOL! Close the park early to customers who have paid to get in and then recharge customers for entry to the park later on that day. I realize there are "extras" involved, but I would imagine it probably makes quite a few people PO'd who show up for a full day of fun at disney without doing their research and find out that they must leave early but still pay full price.

Unfortunately, disney can do pretty much whatever they feel like and people will still come. And they will find a way to squeeze every last penny out of their customers. BTW, you can email them at wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com and express your concerns.

 

[crisi]

It's funny. People were complaining last year that the party was too crowded, and didn't feel special enough, and the lines were long, and they sold too many tickets.
So now they raise the price, which will presumably lower the amount of people that will go, which will alleviate the crowd problem and the "I want to fee special for the extra money" problem. And what are we doing?? Complaining anyway.

To be fair, it probably isn't the same people.

We went years ago, and I thought the tickets were a bad value at $30. Not a horrible value if you have kids that will ride the Mountains endlessly, there were few of those kids and those attractions had no lines. But the lines for Dumbo, etc., early in the evening were as long as they were in the mid-afternoon! There were a ton of kids sleeping in their strollers only an hour or two after the party started, and people cleared out in droves after the fireworks with their little ones.

We might go again this year because it will be our last October trip - and I have kids who are now "stay up until midnight, ride Mountains" age. But I told my sister with her little ones "don't bother" - unless your kids are used to late nights, you are paying a lot for a little candy, a few rides and a cute parade.

 

[_queenie_]

$60?! Sorry kids, we went while it was cheap so now we're not going again!

I understand prices they have to pay are getting higher but that is a little much. Disney really is discouraging people with kids 10 and up from coming at all.

Oh well, what can you do.

 

[Darcy03231]

We'll be there in October and with the ticket prices have decided to skip MNSSHP. We did PPP last year and loved it! Everyone from the little ones to the teens had a great time. I was looking forward to going to MNSSHP but not at those prices.